Location: Sheridan Missouri

Elwood M. Mann is a native of Hancock, Washington county, Maryland, born December 14, 1836. His parents, Jonathan and Mary A. Mann, removed to Missouri in 1844, and after stopping at Wellington one winter, came to Daviess county and settled in what is now Sheridan township. They lived there until 1846, then removed to Gallatin, where his mother died in 1848, and his father in 1859, he having lived with his parents and clerked in his father’s store until that time. In 1860 he engaged in the mercantile business with Jonathan Brosins and his brother William Mann,, under the firm name of Brosins, Mann & Co., doing business until 1862, when Mr. Brosins retired, and the firm of Mann & Bro. carried on the business until the fall of 1863. The following year he went out on the plains, remaining some six months. In the fall of 1866 he once more embarked in the mercantile business, forming a partnership with Pines R. Dunn, and transacting business until 1870 under the firm name of Mann & Dunn, when they closed out. He soon after engaged in general merchandising, continuing about one year, when he entered the grocery business, in which he has-been engaged ever since. In January, 1881, he formed a partnership with. R. R. Wynn, who had clerked for him seven years, and established the present firm of Mann...

Robert H. Grantham has been a resident of Daviess County since 1849, at which time he came with his parents from Montgomery County, Indiana, where they resided for sixteen years. He was born in Washington County, Indiana, near the town of Salem, November 17, 1831. His father was a farmer and stock-raiser, and a native of North Carolina. The early life of Mr. Grantham was spent on his father’s farm and in acquiring an education. From 1859 until 1862 he was engaged in farming and teaching, but during 1862 he enlisted in Company A, First Regiment Missouri State Militia, and served until he was mustered out. Returning to Marion Township, Daviess County, he turned his attention to farming for a number of years; and eventually purchased the farm in Sheridan Township, where he now resides. Mr. Grantham has always been prominently identified with the interest of the county; has served as circuit clerk of the county for a period of nearly six years, being elected for a term of four years at the expiration of his first appointment. He spent the winter of 1876 and 1877 in Texas for the benefit of his health. He was married, October 20, 1859, to Miss Emma I. Canterbury, a native, of Hannibal, Missouri, and daughter of Jeremiah L. and Catherine Waugh Canterbury, both of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Grantham have had four...

Isaac Givens is the son of Merritt Givens, one of the early settlers of Daviess County, born in 1817, and a resident of the county up to the time of his tragic death by accidental shooting, while attempting to arrest a prisoner, in 1862. Isaac Givens was born in Daviess County, Missouri, November 7, 1847, where he remained, working on a farm and attending school until he was eighteen years old. In 1862 he was enrolled in the home guards and while not in active service, was ready for duty during the war. In 1872 Mr. Givens purchased a farm in Sheridan township, where he is now living, giving his attention principally to agricultural pursuits. In 1876 he visited Georgetown, Colorado, and was engaged in mining during the year. He was married, February 2, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth J. Johnson, daughter of James and Sarah Carter Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Givens have had four children, only one of whom is living, Charles...

I. B. Gurney was born April 10, 1845, near Cleveland, Ohio. His father, Asa H. Gurney, was a native of Ohio, and his mother, Catherine Sortor Gurney, a native Allegany County, New York. When he was ten years of age his parents moved to Lake County, Ohio, where they were located on a farm, and where Mr. Gurney received his education, attending school during the winter for several years, and afterward entered college at Berea, Ohio. In August, 1863, he went to Venango County, Pennsylvania, where he became foreman in the office of the McClintock Oil Company, where he remained until 1866 when he moved to Caldwell County, Missouri, and had charge of a drug and grocery business for a year and then came to Daviess County and settled in Colfax Township. In the fall of 1871 he was appointed United States mail agent on the North Missouri Railroad, and held the position three years when he again went into the drug business at New Castle, Gentry County, finally returning to Daviess County where he has since resided, engaged in teaching and farming. Mr. Gurney has been twice married; first in 1866, to Miss Carrie M. Cole, a native of Ohio, and by whom he had one son; Asa G., born January 25, 1868. He was again married, May 17, 1879, to Miss Marilla Mullins, of Daviess...

William Neal is a native of Darke County, Ohio, born December 5, 1817. He is the son of Caleb and Anna Miller Neal; his father being a native of Tennessee and his mother of Indiana. The early life of Mr. Neal was spent on the farm and in acquiring such education as was afforded in those times. He remained in his native town until he attained his twenty-first year when he commenced farming in Darke County, but after a few years labor removed to Adams County, Indiana, and engaged in stock-dealing and speculation for several years, when he returned to Darke County, where he was engaged in farming, and spent a few months in traveling through different parts of Illinois. He eventually moved to Henderson County, Illinois, and was for three years engaged in stock-raising in that County. In 1857 he came to Daviess County and located in Sheridan township, where he has since resided, giving his attention chiefly to farming and raising stock. In 1861, Mr. Neal enlisted in Company I, Twenty-fifth Missouri Volunteers, but remained on duty only a few months when he was disabled by sickness and returned home. After his recovery he returned to his regiment and was on duty until April, 1862, when be was again permanently disabled and received an honorable discharge. Mr. Neal was married, in Darke County, Ohio, October 1,1846, to...

Aaron B. Whiteaker was born in Bremer County, Iowa, near the town of Independence, February 24, 1849. His father, Joseph T. Whiteaker, was born in Virginia in 1818, and came to Daviess County in 1876, where he died July 14, 1881. His mother, Eliza Harris Whiteaker, was a native of Ashland County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch spent his early life with his parents in Putnam County, Illinois, working on his father’s farm and attending school. After the removal of the family to Daviess County, he made a permanent home in Sheridan, and gives his time to the cultivation and improvement of the home farm, on which he still resides. Mr. Whiteaker was married, January 6, 1881, to Miss Eliza Roney, daughter of Henry Roney, a native of...

Daniel White, son of Samuel White, was born near the city of Richmond, in Madison County, Kentucky, February 26, 1831. He remained in his birthplace until he was about twenty-one years of age, during which time he was engaged in farming and working for his father. After becoming of age he was engaged in farming for two years, and then worked in a mill three years. August 9, 1862, he was enrolled in Company F, Seventh Kentucky Cavalry, and was in the service during the war, being in several battles and skirmishes. After the war Mr. White moved to Tazewell County, Illinois, where for seven years he was engaged in farming. He then moved to Piatt County, Illinois, where he was farming for six years. In 1816 he moved to Caldwell County, Missouri, where he farmed two years. In 1880 he came to Daviess County, Missouri, where he purchased a farm and has since been living. In 1857, Mr. White was married to Miss Mary S. Cruise. They have six children: William S., Martin V., Mary T., James A., Eliza and...

Enoch S. M. Donaldson, son of John H. Donaldson, was born January 19, 1840, in Muskingum County, Ohio. When Enoch was two years of age his father moved to Morgan County, Ohio. He remained with his father until he was twenty-two years of age, during which time he worked on the farm and attended school. He was engaged in fanning until 1864, when he went to Venango County, Pennsylvania, where he worked for three years. During part of this time he was employed by an oil company, and a part of the time worked at the shoemaker’s trade. He also learned to be a practical engineer, and followed that profession for a while. In 1867 he went to Morgan County, Ohio, where he remained a few months, when he went to Caldwell County, Missouri, where he was engaged in farming for several years. After this he moved to Sheridan Township in Daviess County, Missouri, where he purchased a farm and engaged in farming. In 1868 he was married to Miss Charity E. McGarvin. They have had six children: Eva, Emmet, Myrtle, Walter, Joseph and Ella...

Andrew J. Creason is a native of Ray County, Missouri. His father, William Creason, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, June 6, 1796, and died in Ray County in 1871. His mother was a native of Tennessee. Andrew J. was born January 15, 1848, near the town of Orrick, and his childhood and early youth were passed in his father’s home. He received such advantages for education as were afforded in those days, attending school and working on the farm. When he reached the age of twenty-four he married, February 22, 1872, Miss Mary E. Proctor, daughter of Eldridge and Nancy Bailey Proctor, both of Bourbon County, Kentucky. After his marriage he was engaged in farming in Ray County for five years, and in 1877 came to Daviess County, purchased a farm in Sheridan Township, and since that time has been principally engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. and Mrs. Creason have five children: Mary A., Nancy A., William E., James L., and an...

John Rorabaugh was born in Stark County, Ohio, August 19, 1835. He is the son of Henry and Elizabeth Shaffer Rorabaugh, both natives of Pennsylvania. His father’s occupation was that of a farmer, during a long and useful life, and both parents attained the full time allotted to man-the father reaching the age of four score years, and the mother four score and one. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, and then engaged in farming in his native County until he came to Daviess County and purchased the farm in Sheridan township where he now resides. January 8, 1860, Mr. Rorabaugh was married to Miss Sue M. Brown. She is the daughter of Daniel Brown, a native of Stark County, Ohio, where he still resides. Six children have been the result of this union: Anson O., born May 11, 1863; Delia S. and Delos H., twins, born July 14, 1866; Maggie L., born March 5, 1869; George D., born July 1, 1873; Alexine B., born January 1,...

Herman E. Retzlaff was born in Germany, August 28, 1857. He is the son of Michael Retzlaff, who came to this country in 1861. His father was in business in Akron, Ohio, eleven years; came to Daviess County in 1874, and died here in 1878. Herman received his education at Akron, and after his parents came to Daviess County remained with them until he attained his majority, when he turned his attention to farming. He now resides on a farm in Sheridan Township, engaged in agricultural...

George N. Noah was born in Portage County, Ohio, October 25, 1826. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of New York. His parents came to Daviess County in 1836, and located on a farm in Sheridan Township, where George remained until he was twenty years of age. In 1861 he was enrolled in the home guards and served daring the war. Since that time he has been a resident of Daviess County. Mr. Noah was married, January 16, 1848, to Miss Marilla Bacon, a native of Portage County, Ohio, and daughter of Lawton Bacon, formerly of Connecticut. Six children have been the fruits of this union: Harriet, George M., Levina J., John W., Lucy M. and Phoebe...

Horatio E. Needham is a native of Addison County, Vermont, born September 10, 1827, near the village of Shalott. While in his infancy his, parents migrated to St. Lawrence County, New York, remained six years, and then went to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where they remained until 1852. During this time Horatio was employed on the farm and also at stone-cutting. In 1859 he went to Fremont County, Iowa, and in 1862 enlisted in Company E, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was on duty three years, being in many important engagements, among which were the battles, of Little Rock, Helena, Mobile and Saline River, and his soldier life was extended through the States of Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana,, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas and Iowa, until he was honorably discharged in 1865. After his return to Fremont County he was engaged in teaming for two years before his removal to Nebraska, where he took up a section of land which he afterward sold and came to Daviess County in 1875. He now owns and cultivates a fine farm in Sheridan Township. Mr. Needham was married, November 25, 1852, to Miss Lucina Bagley, a native of Ohio. Eight children have been born to them, five of whom are living: Whitfield H., Mary I., Ada A., Minnie E. and Willie...

Charles L. McCrary was born in Daviess County, Missouri, January 23, 1844. He is the son of Ephraim McCrary, who was born in North Carolina, March 1, 1820, and came to Daviess County in youth, where he died October 30, 1861. Charles’s mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Linville, was born in Ray County, Missouri, in May, 1825, and is now living with our subject. Charles remained in his birthplace in Monroe Township until twelve years of age when his parents removed to Sheridan Township where the family settled. After being here about four years our subject’s father died. Charles remained on the farm until August, 1862, when he was enrolled in the militia, and was on duty at intervals for eight months. He next enlisted in Company A, First Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, in command of James McPherson, and remained on duty until the close of the war. During his term of service he was in several noted skirmishes. After the war he returned home. On April 29th, 1866, he was married, by Rev. T. Swisher, to Miss Elizabeth Neal, whose father, William Neal, was born in Darke County, Ohio, December 5, 1817. Her mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Irving was born in Darke County, Ohio, October 25, 1818. Since Mr. McCrary was, married he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. The union of Mr. and...

William Elgin is a native of Ohio, born in Wayne County, May 28, 1827. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Montgomery County, Ohio, and until he reached his twentieth year he attended school in that County, and also learned the cabinet-maker’s trade and spent some tine in farming. In 1849 he went to Dayton, Ohio, and from thence to Logansport, Indiana, working at his trade in both cities. At the end of two years he returned to Montgomery County and turned his attention to farming. After this he removed to Warren County, and enlisted, in 1861, in Company E., Fiftieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but remained only a short time on duty when he was appointed to act as captain of a company for home protection. In 1865 he came to Daviess County, purchased a farm in Sheridan Township, which he improved and cultivated for a few years, when he sold it and purchased the farm on which he now resides. Mr. Elgin was married, December 16, 1847, to Miss Rhoda M. Crosley, a native of Warren County, Ohio. They have four children: Josephine, born July 15, 1850; William Harry, born. July 22, 1859; Anna D., born October 31, 1863; and Clara, born March 16,...